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->'''Q:''' You may find the keys useful. They open 90% of the world's locks.-->-- '''Film/TheLivingDaylights'''

A skeleton key (also known as a pass key) is a master key often used by [[MasterOfUnlocking locksmiths]], that will open any lock in the set of locks for which it is made. In fiction, a skeleton key will open ''any'' lock or LockedDoor, ''period'', and will often be shaped like a skeleton, skull or bone (partly a SightGag and partly a visual clue as to the key's purpose). More realistic examples have a full keyring of them, one for each type of lock.

Subtrope of CoolKey. Compare InterchangeableAntimatterKeys (which this is one step up from). Not the same as a SkeletonKeyCard (which is just jimmying the lock with a piece of plastic). For the supernatural power to open any lock, see OpenAndShut.

Not to be confused with ''Film/TheSkeletonKey''.----!!Examples

[[AC: Anime & Manga]]* In ''Anime/TheBigO'', Roger Smith has a device that looks like a key blank. When inserted into a lock, it will emerge as a perfect copy of that lock's key, which can then be used to open the lock. It is unclear whether it is reusable or if he has several.

[[AC:{{Comics}}]]* Depictions of Franchise/{{Batman}}'s UtilityBelt that listed its contents used to include a set of skeleton keys that could unlock 90% of known locks.* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'': Thomson and Thompson use a ring of skeleton keys in several books.* ''ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}'' and his SuperTeam in the ComicBook/{{New 52}}, the Others, have Joshua Cole, a.k.a. Operative, who has an Atlantean key that has the magic property of being able to unlock any lock.

[[AC:FanFic]]* Rupert Chill orders one from the Alien Shopping Network in ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesIILostAtSea''.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]* ''Film/{{Beetlejuice}}'' had Lydia get a skeleton key from a relative of the deceased couple.* ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'' doesn't have a master ''key'', it has the Key ''Maker'', a living embodiment of this trope: a humanoid sentient program with the ability to produce a key that unlocks any door or lock that he comes across in the virtual world, including system backdoors.* In ''Film/HaroldAndMaude'', Maude carries a skeleton key that she uses to drive off in whatever vehicle she chooses. (At one point they ride off on a cop's motorcycle.)* ''Film/TheSkeletonKey'' naturally involves a skeleton key that will open any door in the mansion where the protagonist has taken a job.* ''Film/TheLivingDaylights'' has a set of these helpfully provided by Q to Bond early in the film. He uses it to escape out of a pair of handcuffs.* In ''The Stone Killer'' (1973) a police officer sees a car thief with a huge bunch of keys, and arrests him on suspicion.* ''Film/LeSamourai''. The VillainProtagonist is a ProfessionalKiller who carries a huge ring of keys that enables him to steal any CitroŽn DS. Tension is created in one scene as he tests one key after another in an ignition as two patrolling police officers walk down the sidewalk towards him; the car starts before they get close enough to realise he's stealing it.* ''Film/GhostDogTheWayOfTheSamurai''. Ghost Dog has an electronic key that will start any vehicle; one of a number of homages to ''Film/LeSamourai''.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]* ''Literature/TheWardstoneChronicles'': Tom and Mr. Gregory have skeleton keys provided by Gregory's brother, a locksmith.* In ''[[Franchise/ScoobyDoo Scooby Doo! and the Skeleton Key]]'', Scooby and the gang find an old-fashioned skeleton key - which the ghost of a pirate wants.%%* The Universal Castle Key in ''Literature/SeptimusHeap''.* Sirius Black gives Literature/HarryPotter a Swiss army knife that includes this. Although Harry runs into a door locked with such powerful magic it melts the knife.* The ArtemisFowl series features a piece of fairy tech called an Omnitool, which can open virtually any lock. It was originally owned by Holly Short as a gift from her dying mother, before it was stolen by Mulch Diggums. [[StableTimeLoop Many years later (from Holly's perspective) she was reunited with it by retrieving it from Mulch, when it had only been a few hours (from Mulch's perspectiev) after he had stolen it]].

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]* On ''Series/DoctorWho'', the Doctor's sonic screwdriver often acts as one of these. In the episode ''Carnival of Monsters'', the Doctor complains that he can't open a non-electronic lock with the sonic screwdriver. Jo Grant responds by producing an impressive collection of skeleton keys. Also, the screwdriver [[WeakSauceWeakness doesn't do wood.]]* In the ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' episode "My Jerks," the Janitor is revealed to have made a key that works on everything. Said key is confiscated by Dr. Maddox.* In the "Master Key" pricing game on ''Series/ThePriceIsRight'' the contestant tries to win prizes by picking keys to open a set of giant locks. One of the keys is the Master Key, which will open every lock and award every prize.

[[AC:TabletopRPG]]* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' has had several magical keys that could open any lock, such as the Key of Opening, the Silver Key of Portals and Skeleton Keys (I and II). Also worth noting is the spell Knock, which, when cast, immediately opens (or closes) most objects that can be opened (or closed): doors, chests, boxes, and so on. Amusingly, Knock can be keyed to a Wand for repeated casting, creating a limited-use "skeleton wand". * ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' has several devices that can bypass electronic locks:** A maglock passkey can be used to open any maglock (magnetic lock) door. The higher the passkey's rating, the more likely it can open the lock.** ''The Neo-Anarchists' Guide to Real Life'' has devices that can do the same thing with keypads and cardreaders. The keypad sequencer feeds a keypad system a series of passcodes, and a passcard (AKA skeleton card) does the same with the cardreader it's inserted into.* The "Skeleton Key" is a character template in ''[[TabletopGame/{{BESM}} BESM Third Edition]]''; they have the power to open the portals between worlds, and have the Dynamic Power (low-level, though) to open locks both physical and metaphysical, making them quite sought after by those who know of them. There's also a ''BESM'' artifact called the Janitor's Key Ring which can open any lock if the user simply tries enough keys from the key ring.

[[AC:{{Theater}}]]* In the song, "With Cat-like Tread" from ''Theatre/ThePiratesOfPenzance'', one of the pirates' tools are their "skeletonic keys."

[[AC:VideoGames]]* Alyx Vance appears to have an electronic one about half-way through ''VideoGame/{{HalfLife 2}}'', which opens all doors in Nova Prospekt and can also hack Combine computer consoles.* Subversion: In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', the key to open the Scholomance door is called the Skeleton Key and has a skull-shaped bow, but otherwise is apparently just a normal key that opens one particular door.** Played straight, however, with the Skeleton Keys made by Blacksmiths which will open any lock up to a particular difficulty.* The Skeleton Key artifact, an unbreakable lockpick that fortifies your "security" skill, has appeared in every main game of ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series so far, as an artifact primarily associated with the Daedric Prince Nocturnal:** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsArena Arena]]'', it is obtained in Valenwood or Sommerset that opens any non-magical lock once a day.** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall Daggerfall]]'', it is similar to the Arena version but can now open weak magic locks and also be worn as amulet for stats boost. It is obtained directly from Nocturnal by summoning her on a certain day.** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderscrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', the Skeleton Key is given to you at the end of the Thieves Guild storyline. However, this time it isn't an artifact but a regular lockpick that has very, very good stats but only 50 uses.** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderscrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'' you get a Skeleton Key as a reward for completing a side-quest for a statue of Nocturnal. In this case, the Skeleton Key is an unbreakable lockpick that greatly increases your lockpick skill; this allows players to simply press the button to automatically make an attempt over and over until the lock opens, allowing for any pickable locks to be bypassed entirely.** The Skeleton Key takes a level in badass story-wise in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]''. It can open ''any'' door, even doors that require multiple keys or puzzles to solve, doors that don't even ''have'' keyholes, [[spoiler:and the doors within people that hide their inner potential.]] In-game it's "just" an unbreakable lockpick. Unfortunately, to finish the Thieves' Guild questline you have to return it to Nocturnal.* In ''VideoGame/ExcelsiorPhaseOneLysandia'', these are used to pick locks, instead of normal lockpicks.* The Keyblades of ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' fame can open or close any lock as one of their many abilities. It doesn't end with mundane locks either: ethereal locks to hearts are also on the list. Whether they can open ''electronic'' locks is never touched up on.* ''VideoGame/MarioParty'' 2 and 3 have Skeleton Keys* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': The first two ''Zelda'' games both had a key item that basically served as infinite keys for the remainder of the game. The sixth palace in ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink'' couldn't be beaten without it.* One shows up in ''VideoGame/KingsQuestVIHeirTodayGoneTomorrow'' -- it not only opens any lock (which is useful in case Alex gets imprisoned), it's also shaped like a skeleton, and Alex has to steal it from a real skeleton.* ''Videogame/NetHack'' has both a SkeletonKey ''and'' a SkeletonKeyCard.* ''Videogame/KingdomOfLoathing'' has a skeleton key that, like the page image, has skeleton imagery on it. It avoids being overpowered by snapping every once and a while. It also has the same SkeletonKeyCard from ''[=NetHack=]'' as a ShoutOut. This one doesn't break, because it's an incredibly rare and valuable item to begin with.* In ''Videogame/DeadlyPremonition'', York is given a master key for every police car in Greenvale.* In the adventure game ''Videogame/TheLastExpress'' you can obtain a key that opens all the locks on the train, belonging to the conductor, and you can use it to sneak into other people's compartments and snoop around for information.* ''VideoGame/TaskMaker'' has Skeleton Keys that open any locked door. Its sequel, ''VideoGame/TheTombOfTheTaskMaker'', also has lock picks which can be used if the player is a Thief.* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'' has ''three'' different skeleton keys, with the final incarnation being able to open any door. Or you could just use [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveSupernaturalPowers that spell]].* ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'': ''Videogame/HarmonyOfDissonance'' features a Lure Key that opens almost all the doors in the castle, to ease backtracking in the later parts of the game. There are two doors that it doesn't work on - MK's Bracelet opens one, and the Skull Key opens the other.* In ''Videogame/UltimaV'', the player can acquire Skull Keys which effortlessly open magically locked doors. (Oddly, since they can all be unlocked by the "Unlock Magic" spell anyway, magical doors are notably *less* secure than normally locked doors.)* ''VideoGame/TheBindingOfIsaac'' has one of these as a random power. It's the only InterchangeableAntimatterKey which isn't made of antimatter, so it sets your key count to the cap of 99.* The Master Key, one of the starting gifts in ''Videogame/DarkSouls'', can open several non-progression related doors that would otherwise require other keys to open.* Using the [[spoiler: IDKFA]] cheat code on ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' gives the player (amongst other goodies) skeleton keys instead of the regular keycards, but these aren't InterchangeableAntimatterKeys either (other than losing them at the end of each level). In ''VideoGame/{{Doom}} 2'' there are doors that can only be opened by these skeleton keys, but then they can obtained by means other than cheating.* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' has several of these. In ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' and Yellow, there was a key card that, once obtained, unlocked all the doors in the Rocket Hideout. A similar key must be obtained in ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' and Platinum to unlock all the doors at the Team Galactic building in Veilstone City.** In the same vein, ''Red and Blue'' also had Silph Company's Card Key, which unlocked all the doors in their building.* In ''Mailstrom'' on the UsefulNotes/ZXSpectrum, the least violent way for the postman protagonist to open pillar boxes is to use a skeleton key.* One level in ''VideoGame/TheMatrixPathOfNeo'' has Neo saving a girl who was given a skeleton key by the Key Maker. In the end she uses it to help herself and Neo escape, then destroys it.-->'''Neo:''' You should keep that, it could come in handy.-->'''Girl:''' ''[Snapping the key]'' No way, man, I've had enough of magic keys.

[[AC:{{Webcomics}}]]* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' there is the Skeleton Key Badge that god tiers can earn. While it is just a badge it basically means those who have earned it are living skeleton keys who can unlock most everything just by trying.* The Key to the Arg in ''Webcomic/WeenieLicked''. [[BlindShoulderToss Too bad it got thrown out a window.]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "This Little Wiggy": Chief Wiggum has a police master key that opens any door in Springfield. Bart and Ralph steal it and get up to mayhem.* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'': Cosmo mentions in one episode that he once had a terrible job as a magic key, implied to be one of a skeleton nature.* In ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'', The Skeleton Key is a ghostly artifact that Vlad seeks out in ''The Million Dollar Ghost'', and eventually leads to the events in ''Reign Storm'' when he uses it to release [[SealedEvilInACan Pariah Dark]].* In ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'', the President's Key can ([[InformedAttribute allegedly]]) open any lock in America.

[[AC:RealLife]]* Security guards will often have either a giant keyring or a single key designed to operate every door in a specific area, as will janitors, maintenance people, housekeeping, etc.* While jailed, Shane Baker made a copy of the master key using its images [[http://www.news.com.au/national-news/killer-escaped-prison-after-being-issued-picture-of-master-key-to-all-locks/story-fncynjr2-1226629878591 from a booklet that were handed out to all prisoners]]. The copy allowed him and his inmate Daniel Heiss to escape from the prison only to be recaptured some days later. ----